Nine tonnes of drugs confiscated in Cuba in 2011

At present contacts between Cuba and the United States in that sphere are very limited

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HAVANA, January 14 (Itar-Tass) —— Cuba’s law enforcement agencies in 2011 confiscated nearly nine tonnes of various drugs, which is the greatest amount over the past seven years, the daily Granma said. In 2010 some three tonnes of narcotics was seized. The daily attributes the surge in confiscations to “high demand for narcotics in the United States”, which is “the main consumer in the world.”

In all, 2011 saw 399 operations to seize containers with drugs in the coastal waters and on the coast, 291 more than in 2010. The Cuban authorities intercepted 8.5 tonnes of narcotic drugs – 8.4 tonnes of marijuana, 81.7 kilograms of cocaine and about 7.4 kilograms of hashish. Twenty seven drug mules (mostly Cubans) were detained at the country’s airports while attempting to take out of the country 30.5 kilograms of drugs.

Granma says the Cuban authorities are prepared to conclude a bilateral agreement on cooperation with the United States in fighting drugs trafficking,” which might expand international cooperation. At present contacts between Cuba and the United States in that sphere are very limited.